We’re STILL walking around Bear Island

What started as a kayak adventure turned into a half day of kayaking AND hiking when we beached our kayaks on Bear Island (yes, it’s shaped like a bear).

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image from Google maps

We had already checked out Luau Island (more on that here) so when we arrived at Bear Island, we explored nearby. Then we started walking along the rocky shoreline.

Walking.

Said hi to a few folks who were fishing.

Walking.

Said hi to campers.

Walking.

Walking.

Are we going around the entire island?

Walking.

How big IS this island, anyway?

Walking.

Should we turn around now? No, our kayaks are just around the corner!

Walking. Walking. Walking. Walking. Busted flip-flop.

Walking barefoot.

Walking.

Seriously, just around THIS corner!

Four corners later…

…still walking!

Over 2 hours later, and a lot of spider webs to the face, we finally found our kayaks. We refueled with food and water and rested… thinking about how far we had just walked. It was quite the adventure! If you go to Bear Island and want to hang out for a bit, bring bug spray, sandals (not flip-flops), and food and water, of course.

Here are a few photos I took along the way.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

-Out of the Wilderness

In a crowd of hundreds, no one was wearing a mask

I was working in downtown Nashville last night. On a typical Friday night there’s a span of about 5 blocks that would be swarming with people. It’s on Broadway from 1st Ave up to 5th Ave. Now, I know since the coronavirus, downtown has changed quite a bit, even if temporarily. In fact, here’s a video showing how eery it was when no one was around… 

So as I said, I was downtown Friday night. The crowds are back. Not quite as full as it will be, or as it used to be, but still crowded with tourists, locals, people enjoying a pleasant evening with music, food, and shopping. 

The days of zipping around downtown doing UberEats deliveries is a thing of the past. We’re back to struggling to find parking, watching out for scooters, and traffic. 😦 I know it’s good for the city, though, so it’s fine! Except for the scooters. I still can’t believe there haven’t been major accidents with those things. 

The crowds didn’t surprise me. The scooters didn’t surprise me. The smiles and laughter didn’t surp—- wait, smiles??? Yes, smiles! I actually saw people’s faces! I promise I’m not exaggerating when I say that in the span of those 4 or 5 blocks as I was driving up Broadway, I didn’t see even one person wearing a mask (excluding bar staff, and security). Not even one in a crowd that I’d conservatively estimate numbered in the hundreds. 

In fact, as eery as it was to NOT see the crowds a few weeks ago, it actually felt eery to now see crowds but none wearing masks. It was eery, but also kind of awesome. 

Thanks for stopping by!

-Out of the Wilderness

Photos from Luau Island

This little island on Percy Priest Lake plays host to people of all kinds, and all sorts of little treats and treasures can be found in the form of rocks and aged glass. If you’re in Nashville and have a boat, kayak, or paddleboard, go to Luau Island!

 

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-Out of the Wilderness

Kayaking 5.5 miles east of downtown Nashville, TN

I realized today that after I came back from Florida 2 months ago I haven’t done even one thing by any body of water (except one bath last week, if that counts??). I can’t blame it completely on COVID-19, to be honest. But the time came to break this bad trend in my life. Water fun came in the form of kayaking on Percy Priest Lake. Check out the path of the paddling below… in total it was around 8,800 meters (roughly 5.5 miles).

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Being on the water was so fun, especially knowing there were no alligators or sharks. We did see a snake in the water, though. Other “more safe” creatures we saw were birds, turtles, minnows, frogs, lizards, and caterpillars.

I was craving something like this trip and it turned out to be exactly what I needed! We also did a bit of hiking on Bear Island (the island seen in the middle picture above), which deserves its own post. This year has been pretty weird, right? But I’m hoping I can kayak (and hike) with some regularity! This kayak adventure was a good start to a better trend 🙂

-Out of the Wilderness

That little booger! A story about allergies.

Have any of y’all ever heard of someone who gets away with something as a “booger”? In my mind it’s usually a grandchild who does something slightly outside the rules and a grandparent says, “You little booger!”

That’s the way I hear it in my head, at least.

Well, today… the saying means something totally different. A LOT more literal. The backstory is that I’ve been feeling symptoms of allergies for weeks and weeks. Itchy eyes, sneezing, eyes watering, and yes, a runny nose. Constant sniffling but today feels like a breakthrough. Could it be that the seasonal allergies are drawing to an end?

All the evidence I have to go on so far is that 1. I feel good today and 2. I had a real booger earlier. Yes, my nose isn’t as runny as usual! A genuine booger formed in my nose and when I picked it, you would’ve thought I struck gold.

If that’s TMI, please accept my apology but I do really hope you’re celebrating right alongside me and my solid nose substances…

Thanks for stopping by!

-Out of the Wilderness